Date: 16 November 2022
Churches across the diocese marked Remembrance Sunday this weekend.
Many had imaginative themes. At Christ Church Epsom, the focus was on Ukraine, its victims and refugees. The church created a beautiful prayer tree decorated with ribbons in the colours of the Ukrainian flag.
There was a major outdoor event for St Mark’s Wyke. Even though the parish doesn’t have a priest at present, the Revd Rod Pierce stood in. He was joined by members of local branches of the Beavers, Cub Scouts, Scouts and Explorer Scouts at the Remembrance Sunday service. This was an ecumenical event. The prayers were given by Graham Hall from the local URC Emmanuel Church.
Following this service the congregation processed down to the Normandy War Memorial for a short service. Wreaths were laid by Normandy Parish Council and local representatives of the Royal British Legion, Royal Air Force, Women’s Institute and others. Many local residents joined this mark of remembrance, which made it “a special community event”.
The joint benefice of St James’ Shere and St Mark’s Peaslake both had Services of Remembrance followed by the two minutes silence. Wreaths were laid at the War Memorials in both villages. At Peaslake the local branch of the Royal British Legion paraded their Standard.